Hall Of Fame Profile

Gene Hart

Induction into Flyer Hall Of Fame - Feb. 1992

Induction into Hockey Hall Of Fame - Sept. 1997

On July 13, the long time voice of the Flyers, Gene Hart passed away. He will also be remembered as a great broadcaster and a great man.

Mr. Hart ppent nearly 30 years with the Flyers as their radio and TV voice, calling plays for the Flyers from 1967 through 1995 and lateras the play by play voice for the Philadelphia Phantoms.

The son of a Hungarian acrobat father and a former Viennese operetta singer was raised in New York Cityand Atlantic City, when his love of opera always remained. He was able to pick upFoster Hewitt's play by play on Hockey Night in Canada where the idea of becoming a broadcaster was instilled.After an Atlantic City High game , he volunteered to help out with play by play. The expansion Flyers couldn'tafford to bring in a high priced play by play man so the hired the entusuiastic Hart.

Hart was hired by the Flyers on Nov. 4, 1967 as their play by play radio voiceon WCAM (1310), taking him away from teaching duties. Back in those days the Flyers actaully had to pay to have theirgames on the radio. During their second year only 48 of their games were broadcast andoften in their first two years they didn't even broadcast the first period of games.

But Gene's captivating play by play helped increase the popularity of the Flyers. His preparation for each broadcast was second to none, and his mulitlinual backgroundcame in handy when it came to pronouncing the flood of European players that were to come.

Before 1988, the Flyers simulcasted audio both on radio and TV. After that time hart was moved into the radio booth. But in 1992 due to popular demand Hart moved back to television until 1995. During his stay with the Flyers Hart had five broadcast partners during his Flyers career, Stu Nahan,Larry Zeidel, Don Earle, Bobby Taylor and Gary Dornhoefer.

Then in 1997, Hart was amazed when he got a call announcing he had made the Hockey Hall of Fame.As a broadcaster he had several trademarks, "Score" (which was also the name of his 1993 book),"He scores for a case of Tastykake" and his signoff "Goodnight and Good Hockey"

But his most famous moment will be his call of the ending moments of the Flyers first Stanley Cup win "Ladies and Gentlemen, the Flyers are goign to win the Stanley Cup ! The Flyers win the Stanley Cup ! The Flyers win the Stanley Cup ! The Flyers have won the Stanley Cup !"